Northern Ireland GP leaders to consider referendum on ‘leaving the NHS’
GP leaders in Northern Ireland are going to consider instructing the BMA to hold a referendum on GPs leaving the NHS.
The agenda for the Northern Ireland LMCs conference taking place on Saturday (15 November) contains multiple motions considering a ‘plan B’ for general practice, including holding ‘a referendum of GPs leaving the NHS’.
LMC leaders are also going to vote on a motion stating that they have ‘no confidence’ in the current minister of health Mike Nesbitt and in the Department of Health.
Mr Nesbitt imposed the GMS contract for 2025/26 on GP practices for the first time this year, despite the offer being overwhelmingly rejected by the profession.
This led GPs in Northern Ireland to begin collective action this summer, implementing measures ‘designed to reduce the unfunded work they carry out’.
At the conference, LMCs are also going to debate escalating the actions they are currently taking and asking the BMA to produce a further menu of options for practices.
And they will vote on instructing the BMA not to engage in any discussions around ‘neighbourhood systems of care’ unless there is a ‘guarantee of substantial investment into GP core services’.
Chair of conference Dr Conor Moore said: ‘NIGPC is in dispute with the Department of Health over the failure to agree a GMS contract for 2025/26 and its subsequent imposition.
‘Consequently, GPs in Northern Ireland are currently in the unprecedent position of taking collective action. GPs gave NIGPC a huge mandate with 98.7% of GP partners who voted indicating that they were in favour of taking collective action.
‘The NILMC conference is our opportunity to enable the collective voice of LMCs and GPs to be heard.
‘It is a chance to ensure that the NIGPC negotiators understand your priorities and concerns and a chance to provide your thoughts and ideas to improve the future of general practice in Northern Ireland.’
Last week, the GMC and RCGP used their addresses at the inaugural Pulse LIVE Belfast to call for improvements to GP workforce strategies in Northern Ireland.
And Mr Nesbitt confirmed that GPs in Northern Ireland will receive the overdue 4% pay uplift recommended by the independent pay review body for 2025/26.
The motions in full
MINISTER/DOH
2 ELMC: That conference has no confidence in the current Minister of Health.
3 Agenda committee to be proposed by WLMC: That conference has no confidence in the Department of Health (DOH) and Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG).
COLLECTIVE ACTION
10 Agenda Committee to be proposed by NLMC – That conference commends practices in Northern Ireland for participating in collective action and instructs NIGPC to;
i. produce a further menu of options that can be implemented with King’s Counsel (KC) advice that doesn’t expose any GMS practice
to a breach notice from SPPG
ii. begin planning to escalate action to include areas which may impact on GP income
iii. produce clear guidance for existing and future collective action options to improve practice confidence and engagement with options
iv. engage urgently with Federations to review the use of CIC type models to prevent practice closures.
PLAN B
11 SLMC: That conference instructs NIGPC to set up a working group to develop a plan B for general practice and share it with the profession.
12 SLMC: That conference instructs NIGPC to hold a referendum of GPs in Northern Ireland leaving the NHS.
NEIGHBOURHOOD MODEL
16 Agenda committee to be proposed by ELMC: That conference agrees with NIGPC’s position not to engage in any discussion regarding
‘neighbourhood systems of care’ during the 2025/26 contract dispute and instructs NIGPC not to enter into any negotiations unless there is;
i. a guarantee of substantial investment into GP core services to stabilise general practice before Neighbourhood system working
can be progressed
ii. a commitment to incrementally increase General Practice funding to 15% share of the overall healthcare budget
iii. commitment to protecting and promoting the independent contractor model as a core part of delivering general practice services under any such system of care.
Source: BMA NI
Related Articles
Oviva’s fully remote Tier 3 Weight Management programmeREADERS' COMMENTS [3]
Please note, only GPs are permitted to add comments to articles
Its great to see some proper fight from GPs finally…..there has been far to much naval gazing and shrugging shoulders.
The older generation of GPs are unlikely to survive in a free-market system outside the NHS. It’s wiser for them to hold on to the privileges and security they currently enjoy (and keep attending PCN meetings with tea and biscuits).
At last, a reason to join the BMA, if you work in NI not England.